University of Canterbury student numbers increase for 2017

The University of Canterbury campus is booming once again,
reflecting the increase in enrolments to attend UC in 2017,
with an especially significant rise in international
students.

Student numbers at the University of Canterbury
(UC) have increased for the 2017 academic year, with a sharp
20 per cent rise in international students.

All new-to-UC
enrolments are up 3 per cent when compared to the same time
last year, which was itself a 16 per cent rise on the year
before, bringing the number of new students at UC in 2017 to
3562 equivalent full-time students (EFTS), compared to 3472
new EFTS for the same time last year.

UC Acting
Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Wright is pleased with the
result and welcomes the new students to New Zealand and
Canterbury.

“As well as a 20 per cent increase in
international students, we also have record numbers of
international postgraduate students, up 19 per cent from
2016. In 2010, we had about 750 full-time equivalent
students in Masters programmes. In 2016 we had more than
1,020 full-time equivalent students in Masters programmes
and record numbers of PhD students.”

Prof Wright says
the University has made significant efforts to attract and
retain students, both domestically and internationally,
which is paying off.

“I’m delighted with the number of
new and returning students enrolled this year. We’ve got a
record number of Engineering students across the board, who
will be the first to use the exciting new facilities in the
state-of-the-art Engineering precinct. The College of
Business and Law has seen an 8 per cent increase in student
numbers in 2017, while the College of Education, Health and
Human Development enrolments are up 5 per cent. We also have
a 3 per cent increase in Arts students, some of whom will be
the first Classics and Music students to enjoy the new UC
Arts City Campus based in the Arts Centre, this
year.”

Prof Wright notes that flatting in Auckland and
Wellington continues to be extremely hard to maintain on a
student budget.

“Living on or near the UC campus, and
having a lifestyle that can take you from lectures to the
beach or city centre in 20 minutes or the skifield in 90, is
much more appealing and affordable than trying to live in
Auckland or Wellington.”

In December 2016, more than
15,560 students in total, including around 1500
international students from 115 countries, studied at UC
which was a seven per cent increase in new-to-UC domestic
students and 30 per cent increase in new-to-UC international
students compared to
2015.

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